Waste cartridge for an underwater drilling assembly

Abstract

Underwater drilling assemblies and systems are disclosed. The underwater drilling assemblies and systems include drill assemblies, frames for drill assemblies, and connection flange assemblies to be fastened to a ship skin. The underwater drilling assemblies and systems further include waste cartridges and automatic air-bleed valve assemblies.

1 . A method for flushing a drill cavity within an underwater drilling system, wherein the underwater drilling system comprises a connection flange assembly configured to be attached to a ship skin, wherein the connection flange assembly comprises an upper coupling portion, a lower coupling portion, and a knife gate, and wherein the method comprises:
 placing an underwater drilling system against a ship skin;   securing the underwater drilling system to the ship skin;   drilling self-tapping studs into the ship skin to affix the connection flange assembly to the ship skin;   pressurizing the drill cavity to test a first seal between the connection flange assembly and the ship skin;   advancing a primary drill shaft toward the ship skin to drill a primary hole in the ship skin;   retracting the primary drill shaft through the ship skin;   closing a knife gate of the connection flange assembly to provide a second seal between the upper coupling portion and the lower coupling portion; and   purging fluid in the drill cavity into a waste cartridge.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decoupling the upper coupling portion from lower coupling portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising actuating the primary drill shaft to agitate fluid within the upper coupling portion during the purging of the fluid in the drill cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the drill cavity comprises advancing the primary drill shaft into the drill cavity. 
     
     
         5 . An underwater drilling system, comprising:
 a frame comprising an upper coupler;   a connection flange to be attached to a ship skin, wherein the connection flange comprises a lower coupler comprising a knife gate actuatable to provide a seal between the lower coupler and the upper coupler, wherein the upper coupler is separable from the lower coupler;   a drill cavity, comprising:
 an upper drill cavity defined in the upper coupler; and 
 a lower drill cavity defined in the lower coupler; 
   a waste cartridge fluidically coupled to the drill cavity through the upper coupler; and   a pump configured to purge fluid within the upper drill cavity into the waste cartridge.   
     
     
         6 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 5 , wherein the pump is configured to pump water into the upper drill cavity to purge the fluid within the upper drill cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 5 , wherein the waste cartridge comprises a check valve configured to prevent waste fluid contained within the waste cartridge from flowing into the upper drill cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 5 , further comprising an air purge valve positioned between the upper drill cavity and the waste cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 5 , wherein the waste cartridge comprises a transparent shell. 
     
     
         10 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 5 , wherein the upper drill cavity comprises a first capacity, and wherein the waste cartridge comprises a second capacity which is greater than the first capacity. 
     
     
         11 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 10 , wherein the second capacity is at least three times greater than the first capacity. 
     
     
         12 . An underwater drilling system, comprising:
 a frame comprising a base;   a connection flange pre-attached to the base, wherein the connection flange comprises:
 a female coupler; 
 a cavity defined in the connection flange, wherein the cavity comprises an upper cavity and a lower cavity; and 
 a gate actuatable to provide a seal between the upper cavity and the lower cavity, wherein the frame is separable from the female coupler; 
   a container fluidically coupled to the upper cavity; and   a pump to expel fluid within the upper cavity into the container.   
     
     
         13 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 12 , wherein the pump is to pump water into the upper cavity to purge fluid within the upper cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 12 , wherein the container comprises a check valve to prevent waste fluid contained within the container from flowing into the upper cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 12 , further comprising an air purge valve positioned between the upper cavity and the container. 
     
     
         16 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 12 , wherein the container comprises a transparent shell. 
     
     
         17 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 12 , wherein the upper cavity comprises a first capacity, and wherein the container comprises a second capacity which is greater than the first capacity. 
     
     
         18 . The underwater drilling system of  claim 17 , wherein the second capacity is at least three times greater than the first capacity.